Hampton-Dumont-CAL will host West Fork in the season opener for both volleyball teams Thursday. The match will air on 104.9 KLMJ, and it’ll be the first ever varsity event in the school’s new gym.
Last year, the Bulldogs recorded their first winning season since 2011, and two starters from that team are back. Head Coach Sarah Miller says the upperclassmen have learned what it takes to be successful, which is a crucial aspect of reloading for this season.
“I think we’re gonna build our confidence through that communication,” Miller says. “But that leadership that we do have with our captains and also the returning plays of Addie and Madison, I think that really is gonna help those underclassmen understand that they can have confidence in those upperclassmen, but also they are helping the underclassmen build confidence in themselves, giving them the tools and the keys of how to be more successful, how to tweak something a little bit, continuing those opportunities to be working on those fundamental skills, and then just celebrating, celebrating when we’re making that three pass, celebrating when we have that amazing kill or that block. You can just see the confidence in our underclassmen continuing to grow as we celebrate.”
West Fork is coming off its best season since 2018, but also has a lot of ground to make up in the starting lineup. Head Coach Emily Greimann says the match will be a great way to start the season for multiple reasons.
“I love starting off playing Hampton-Dumont-CAL because they always have just a solid team,” Greimann says. “And I know that by having that kind of match, we really can see where we’re at and go from there. And they’re close by, it’s just nice to be able to go there. These girls know some of those girls and to be able to play a match where it’s going to be a good match and a lot of good sportsmanship and all that, and then get a good view on what the rest of season could look like from that match.”
The Bulldogs have won three straight in the series, including a 3-0 sweep last year. Coverage will start at 6:45 p.m., followed by the first serve at 7:00.
